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| UK coronavirus: Raab hints at lockdown extension as Boris Johnson remains 'stable' in intensive care | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Follow the latest developments in the UK’s Covid-19 crisis as hospital death toll rises by 786 to 6,159 | Follow the latest developments in the UK’s Covid-19 crisis as hospital death toll rises by 786 to 6,159 |
| Dominic Raab, the foreign secretary who is deputising for Boris Johnson while Johnson remains in intensive care in hospital, told a press conference this afternoon that his boss was “a fighter” who would be back at work “in short order”. Raab said: | Dominic Raab, the foreign secretary who is deputising for Boris Johnson while Johnson remains in intensive care in hospital, told a press conference this afternoon that his boss was “a fighter” who would be back at work “in short order”. Raab said: |
| Raab expressed his support for Johnson as the PM received well-wishes from fellow leaders around the world, from members of the public, and even from the Queen and other members of the royal family. In an update on the PM’s health, Raab confirmed that Johnson was not on a ventilator - but did not go beyond the relatively scant progress report issued by No 10 at lunchtime. (See 12.51pm.) Raab said: | Raab expressed his support for Johnson as the PM received well-wishes from fellow leaders around the world, from members of the public, and even from the Queen and other members of the royal family. In an update on the PM’s health, Raab confirmed that Johnson was not on a ventilator - but did not go beyond the relatively scant progress report issued by No 10 at lunchtime. (See 12.51pm.) Raab said: |
| Raab played down the prospect of the lockdown restrictions being relaxed next week, when they are due to be reviewed for the first time. (See 5.53pm.) | Raab played down the prospect of the lockdown restrictions being relaxed next week, when they are due to be reviewed for the first time. (See 5.53pm.) |
| Sir Patrick Vallance, the government’s chief scientific adviser, said the number of coronavirus cases “could be moving in the right direction” but that it would not be clear “for a week or so”. Speaking at the press conference, Vallance presented a chart showing the latest data for new cases and said: | Sir Patrick Vallance, the government’s chief scientific adviser, said the number of coronavirus cases “could be moving in the right direction” but that it would not be clear “for a week or so”. Speaking at the press conference, Vallance presented a chart showing the latest data for new cases and said: |
| Here is the chart that Vallance was referring to. It was one of five (pdf) he presented at the press conference. | Here is the chart that Vallance was referring to. It was one of five (pdf) he presented at the press conference. |
| Raab implied that Matt Hancock, the health secretary, should be held accountable if the government failed to meet the target Hancock set for 100,000 coronavirus tests to be carried out a day by the end of this month. Asked who would “carry the can” if the target were missed, Raab stressed that it was Hancock’s target. He said the latest data showed 14,000 tests a day being carried out. | Raab implied that Matt Hancock, the health secretary, should be held accountable if the government failed to meet the target Hancock set for 100,000 coronavirus tests to be carried out a day by the end of this month. Asked who would “carry the can” if the target were missed, Raab stressed that it was Hancock’s target. He said the latest data showed 14,000 tests a day being carried out. |
| Whitty implied that the UK could learn from Germany’s success with testing. Asked why the number of deaths from coronavirus in Germany was rising at a slower rate than in the UK, Whitty said: | Whitty implied that the UK could learn from Germany’s success with testing. Asked why the number of deaths from coronavirus in Germany was rising at a slower rate than in the UK, Whitty said: |
| Keir Starmer has been praised by Jewish leaders for achieving “in four days more than his predecessor in four years” after he held a video conference to set out steps Labour would be taking to stamp out antisemitism. | Keir Starmer has been praised by Jewish leaders for achieving “in four days more than his predecessor in four years” after he held a video conference to set out steps Labour would be taking to stamp out antisemitism. |
| For more coronavirus coverage, do read our global coronavirus blog: | For more coronavirus coverage, do read our global coronavirus blog: |
| There are now confirmed cases of Covid-19 in more than a third of prisons in England and Wales, according to a daily update from the Ministry of Justice. | There are now confirmed cases of Covid-19 in more than a third of prisons in England and Wales, according to a daily update from the Ministry of Justice. |
| As of 5pm on Monday, 116 prisoners had tested positive for Covid-19 across 43 prisons, up from 107 prisoners across 38 prisons at the same time on Sunday. There are 83,000 prisoners in England and Wales in 117 prisons. | As of 5pm on Monday, 116 prisoners had tested positive for Covid-19 across 43 prisons, up from 107 prisoners across 38 prisons at the same time on Sunday. There are 83,000 prisoners in England and Wales in 117 prisons. |
| The number of prison staff who have tested positive remained at 19 across 12 prisons in the period, while the number of infected prisoner escort and custody services (Pecs) staff remained at four. | The number of prison staff who have tested positive remained at 19 across 12 prisons in the period, while the number of infected prisoner escort and custody services (Pecs) staff remained at four. |
| With the negotiations over the UK’s future relationship with the EU in flux due to the coronavirus pandemic, David Frost, the British chief negotiator has said he will hold talks by video-conference call with his counterpart, Michel Barnier, next week. Frost tweeted: | With the negotiations over the UK’s future relationship with the EU in flux due to the coronavirus pandemic, David Frost, the British chief negotiator has said he will hold talks by video-conference call with his counterpart, Michel Barnier, next week. Frost tweeted: |
| There was only one round of face-to-face talks ahead of the lockdowns on either side of the Channel. The other scheduled rounds in Brussels and London were abandoned soon after. | There was only one round of face-to-face talks ahead of the lockdowns on either side of the Channel. The other scheduled rounds in Brussels and London were abandoned soon after. |
| The EU has published a draft treaty on the future relationship. The UK has provided some legal text to the commission on its vision of the trade relationship but is yet to publish any papers. | The EU has published a draft treaty on the future relationship. The UK has provided some legal text to the commission on its vision of the trade relationship but is yet to publish any papers. |
| Dominic Raab did not have anything much to announce in that press conference, and it seemed as if the message he was most keen to deliver was his personal message of support for Boris Johnson. (See 5.05pm.) It is always advisable to show strong support for the boss, even if you don’t particularly mean it, but in this case it seemed very obvious that Raab did. Johnson’s illness has clearly shocked his colleagues, and their concern for him is genuine. | Dominic Raab did not have anything much to announce in that press conference, and it seemed as if the message he was most keen to deliver was his personal message of support for Boris Johnson. (See 5.05pm.) It is always advisable to show strong support for the boss, even if you don’t particularly mean it, but in this case it seemed very obvious that Raab did. Johnson’s illness has clearly shocked his colleagues, and their concern for him is genuine. |
| Beyond that, what was probably most interesting was what Raab had to say about the prospect of the lockdown measures being relaxed. When Johnson announced the lockdown 15 days ago, he said: | Beyond that, what was probably most interesting was what Raab had to say about the prospect of the lockdown measures being relaxed. When Johnson announced the lockdown 15 days ago, he said: |
| The three-week deadline comes up on Monday. But when Raab was asked about the prospect of the restrictions being lifted in any way next week, he very much played down the idea. He said: | The three-week deadline comes up on Monday. But when Raab was asked about the prospect of the restrictions being lifted in any way next week, he very much played down the idea. He said: |
| And in another answer, Raab said: | And in another answer, Raab said: |
| Prof Chris Whitty was a bit more explicit. Talking about when some of the restrictions might be relaxed, he said: | Prof Chris Whitty was a bit more explicit. Talking about when some of the restrictions might be relaxed, he said: |
| Q: A letter from GPs to Jenny Harries, the deputy chief medical officer for England, suggests some people who should be shielded are not being shielded. What will you do about that? | Q: A letter from GPs to Jenny Harries, the deputy chief medical officer for England, suggests some people who should be shielded are not being shielded. What will you do about that? |
| Whitty says there are three categories for shielding: what everyone should do; what people who are over 70 and otherwise vulnerable should do; and what a group of 1.5 million people who are especially vulnerable because of health conditions need to do. He says the government will want to protect people in this third group for quite a long period of time. | Whitty says there are three categories for shielding: what everyone should do; what people who are over 70 and otherwise vulnerable should do; and what a group of 1.5 million people who are especially vulnerable because of health conditions need to do. He says the government will want to protect people in this third group for quite a long period of time. |
| He says some people in the group of 1.5 million will have decided that they do not wish to be part of this. Some of these people might have a terminal illness and have made a rational decision not be to be shielded. | He says some people in the group of 1.5 million will have decided that they do not wish to be part of this. Some of these people might have a terminal illness and have made a rational decision not be to be shielded. |
| Q: Are you promising that you will carry out 100,000 daily antigen tests by the end of the month? If you do not meet that, will someone carry the can? | Q: Are you promising that you will carry out 100,000 daily antigen tests by the end of the month? If you do not meet that, will someone carry the can? |
| Raab says the health secretary, Matt Hancock, has been very clear what the target is. | Raab says the health secretary, Matt Hancock, has been very clear what the target is. |
| Q: So are you promising that 100,000 antigen tests can be carried out by the end of the month? | Q: So are you promising that 100,000 antigen tests can be carried out by the end of the month? |
| Raab says he will not go beyond what the health secretary has said. The government is going to strain every sinew to get these tests done, he says. This target still stands, he says. | Raab says he will not go beyond what the health secretary has said. The government is going to strain every sinew to get these tests done, he says. This target still stands, he says. |
| And that’s it. The press conference is over. | And that’s it. The press conference is over. |
| I will post a summary soon. | I will post a summary soon. |
| Whitty says care homes and nursing homes will present some of the biggest challenges. He says he expects the number of deaths in these places to go up. | Whitty says care homes and nursing homes will present some of the biggest challenges. He says he expects the number of deaths in these places to go up. |
| Vallance says the UK is publishing data for hospital deaths because that is how many other countries are presenting their data. | Vallance says the UK is publishing data for hospital deaths because that is how many other countries are presenting their data. |
| Q: Will there be a three-week review of the lockdown? Or will it wait until the PM is out of hospital? And there was modelling published on Friday suggesting this lockdown could go on for months. Will you level with people and admit that? | Q: Will there be a three-week review of the lockdown? Or will it wait until the PM is out of hospital? And there was modelling published on Friday suggesting this lockdown could go on for months. Will you level with people and admit that? |
| Raab says he thinks the government has levelled with people. It needs to look at the data, showing how these measures have worked, before deciding what do to next. | Raab says he thinks the government has levelled with people. It needs to look at the data, showing how these measures have worked, before deciding what do to next. |
| Whitty says it is essential to get beyond the peak first. At that point they can decide what combination of measures might stay in place. He says there are disadvantages to keeping the lockdown in place too long. | Whitty says it is essential to get beyond the peak first. At that point they can decide what combination of measures might stay in place. He says there are disadvantages to keeping the lockdown in place too long. |
| Q: Has the PM given you any indication of when the lockdown might be relaxed? Other countries have levelled with the public? | Q: Has the PM given you any indication of when the lockdown might be relaxed? Other countries have levelled with the public? |
| Raab says we are not at that point yet. They remain focused on conveying the key message, which is that everyone should comply with the guidance. | Raab says we are not at that point yet. They remain focused on conveying the key message, which is that everyone should comply with the guidance. |
| He says the guidance is helping. The worst thing would be to “take our foot off the pedal”. It is critical that people keep up this discipline. | He says the guidance is helping. The worst thing would be to “take our foot off the pedal”. It is critical that people keep up this discipline. |
| Q: So this lockdown is going to have to stay for a few more weeks at least? | Q: So this lockdown is going to have to stay for a few more weeks at least? |
| Raab says he does not accept that. He says they have been guided by the data. Once they get reliable data on the impact these measures have had, they will be able to take decisions. | Raab says he does not accept that. He says they have been guided by the data. Once they get reliable data on the impact these measures have had, they will be able to take decisions. |
| Q: What could we have done differently? | Q: What could we have done differently? |
| Vallance says this is a pandemic. It is applying everwhere. We are three or four weeks behind Italy. Keeping the numbers below ICU capacity is critical. It is essential to keep this suppressed, he says. | Vallance says this is a pandemic. It is applying everwhere. We are three or four weeks behind Italy. Keeping the numbers below ICU capacity is critical. It is essential to keep this suppressed, he says. |
| Q: How could it be that three people in charge of telling the country not to catch this virus caught it? | Q: How could it be that three people in charge of telling the country not to catch this virus caught it? |
| Because it is very indiscriminate, says Raab. | Because it is very indiscriminate, says Raab. |